NFL Sets Plan to Begin Training Replacement Refs amid Contract Talks with NFLRA

The NFL has taken its next step toward replacement officials as labor talks with the referees union remain at an impasse.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, "The NFL informed clubs today it will begin training replacement officials next month with the goal of preparing them for team visits starting June 1 if no deal can be reached with the referees union, per a memo obtained by NFL Network. Negotiations will continue between the NFL and NFLRA later this week. The current labor deal expires May 31."

Pelissero added that the NFL is requiring teams to send them their OTA and mandatory minicamp schedules by April 22. Replacement referees would then be assigned for those team visits if a labor deal can't be reached with the NFLRA.

Negotiations between the NFL and NFLRA haven't seemed to be terribly productive. In late March, the NFLRA accused the league of negotiating in bad faith.

"Today the NFLRA negotiating team showed up to what was supposed to be the start of a two-day session with the league to make progress towards a new Collective Bargaining Agreement," it said in a statement. "Unfortunately, it was soon clear that the NFL did not arrive with the same level of commitment. We offered a counter to the most recent proposal, which was rejected. We asked that they respond to our offer with the goal of making forward progress. We then learned that no one in their delegation was authorized to negotiate beyond their original proposal, and at that time they chose to leave, after less than half a day of talks. We have come to learn that this is a common negotiation tactic used by the league to seek unreasonable concessions, which we quickly communicated to our members. Though frustrating, it will not disrupt our union's united position of achieving a fair deal. The NFLRA will continue to bring its dealmakers to the table to secure a CBA that is fair, recognizes the key role that NFL Officials play in the League's success, and provides both sides with the long-term certainty that management, officials, coaches, players and fans deserve."

On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the league will send a number of team owners to the next round of negotiations this week:

Rapoport noted that the league's priority "continues to be investing (with record-setting raises offered) and in accountability and performance in officiating."

The NFLRA has reportedly pushed back on the league's desire for accountability and performance measures, per ESPN's Kevin Seifer and Kalyn Kahler, which would include moving the probationary period for new officials to five years (it's currently three); reducing the "dead period" in the offseason to allow for more performance training; requiring lower-rated officials to work spring games; and replacing seniority-focused assignments for the postseason with merit-based assignments.

NFL referees are not full-time employees and often juggle other professions with their officiating gigs, so it's easy enough to see why they would push back in particular on more of a time commitment. Making them full-time employees would solve that issue but cost the league additional money and resources, so the NFL seems intent on trying to split the difference and the NFLRA is not yet satisfied with where the league has landed in that regard.